She needn't have bothered.
Word had already gone out: anyone who helped me make trouble was declaring war on the Hensons.
No one dared.
I sat alone in my hotel room, tracing my mother's face in an old photograph, tears falling onto the glass. Guilt clawed at my chest.
I'm sorry, Mom. I couldn't protect anything you left me.
That afternoon, Rosemary kicked down my door anyway.
Behind her stood Frederick, his eyes red and swollen.
She stormed across the room and grabbed my collar, her face twisted with rage.
"Roland Sullivan! I never thought you'd sink this low! You had someone play Frederick's private photos at the wedding venue!"
"It's already trending online! How is he supposed to get married now? You're trying to destroy his future!"
I shoved her hand away, genuinely confused.
"What are you talking about—"
Before I could finish, Frederick cut in, voice cracking with theatrical grief.
"Brother, I know you didn't want to transfer those shares to me. But it was Dad's decision! What was I supposed to do—defy our own father?"
"If you're angry at me, fine, I'll take it. But why did you have to do this on Mom's wedding day? People called her a homewrecker for years. She's suffered enough."
And just like that, I understood.
Years ago, when my father had been so devoted to my mother that he'd married her despite their families' class difference, he'd given her half his shares—proof that she'd always be secure.
She'd passed them to me.
This was a setup. All of it.
A cold laugh escaped me.
"Rosemary, can't you see what's happening? He's orchestrating this whole thing to steal the shares my mother left me. It's a performance—and you're playing your part perfectly."
I turned to Frederick.
"You're saying I did this? Who saw me? Where's your proof?"
"I don't need evidence. Frederick isn't the scheming type—you're the only one with motive!"
Rosemary's face was set with absolute certainty as she seized my arm.
"You're going to apologize to Frederick right now. On livestream. Tell everyone this was all your doing!"
"And then you're going to transfer every share under your name to him. You owe him that!"
"And if I refuse?"
At my words, Frederick's composure shattered. He let out a strangled cry.
"Rosemary, my reputation is destroyed! He ruined me! Now everyone's calling me the shameless homewrecker who crashed his own parents' anniversary—they're saying I'm worse than garbage!"